Carlisle County, Kentucky
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Carlisle County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 101st of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,260 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Carlisle County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 86.2 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 7.3 | $877K | ||
| Drought | 70.9 | $480K | ||
| Tornado | 30.5 | $459K | ||
| Ice storm | 83.1 | $455K | ||
| Cold wave | 34.5 | $452K | ||
| Strong wind | 37.7 | $335K | ||
| Heat wave | 40.0 | $201K | ||
| Lightning | 15.0 | $45K | ||
| Hail | 14.4 | $42K | ||
| Winter weather | 30.5 | $26K | ||
| Hurricane | 24.6 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 3.3 | $989 | ||
| Landslide | 40.3 | $586 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Carlisle County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1967
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 215 storm reports in Carlisle County since 1967, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $6.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 23, 2011 near Bardwell.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2011 | EF2 | Bardwell | 2 / 0 |
| Oct 31, 2013 | EF1 | Cunningham | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 2019 | EF1 | Cunningham | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 2019 | EF1 | Bardwell | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 23, 2019 | EF1 | Magee Spgs | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2011 | Tornado | Bardwell | $2M |
| Feb 16, 2025 | Flood | Columbus | $950K |
| Jun 11, 1994 | Hail | – | $550K |
| Jul 19, 2023 | Flash Flood | Arlington | $500K |
| Jan 3, 2000 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $400K |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Winnford | $300K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Carlisle County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 62 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 62 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Carlisle County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Carlisle County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 2,307 housing units.
Compare in Kentucky
All 120 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Fayette County | Inland flooding | |
| Kenton County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding | |
| Warren County | Inland flooding | |
| Hardin County | Inland flooding | |
| Daviess County | Inland flooding | |
| Campbell County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| McCracken County | 21 | |
| Graves County | 20 | |
| Mississippi County, MO | 23 | |
| Ballard County | 26 | |
| Hickman County | 26 |
Common questions about Carlisle County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Carlisle County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Carlisle County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $877,011.
How many federal disasters has Carlisle County had?
Carlisle County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Carlisle County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 101st highest of 120 in Kentucky. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Carlisle County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Carlisle County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Carlisle County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Carlisle County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 23, 2011 near Bardwell. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 67 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Carlisle County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Carlisle County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.